PARIS (Reuters) — Germany has detected a highly pathogenic bird flu strain, which hit Asia severely but has never been reported in Europe, says the World Organization for Animal Health. Turkeys were found infected with the H5N8 serotype of the disease Nov. 4 on a farm in the northeastern state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the organization, also […] Read more
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Germany reports first case of bird flu strain in Europe
Supports for flooded out farmers fall short: APAS
WHITEWOOD, Sask. — Farmers who are frustrated by five or more years of flooding say they need better policies and infrastructure. Delegates at recent Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan district meetings said improvements to crop insurance coverage would help. A policy paper that APAS developed notes that unseeded acreage is covered at $70 per acre […] Read more
Chemical concerns spur microbial based ag products
Plant stimulant | Inocucor Technologies claims its microbial product can boost crop yields by 10 to 15 percent
A Montreal-based manufacturer of “yeast and bacteria” believes its biological product can make the leap to large-scale agriculture. Inocucor Technologies announced last month a partnership with McGill University researchers to develop products for commercial crops such as soybeans, canola and wheat that use microbes to stimulate plant growth. The initiative adds to a growing list […] Read moreSaputo plant to keep operating, plans upgrades
A Saputo plant in the village of Glenwood, Alta., will not be closing after all. The facility, which produces dried milk, was slated to close at the end of next year, but Saputo has since re-evaluated operations and decided to keep the plant open. It means 25 people at the village’s largest employer will keep […] Read more
Controversial French scientist defends GMO, pesticide research
French scientist Gilles-Eric Seralini says attempts to discredit him and his research into GMOs and pesticides are negated by the fact his work continues. Speaking to about 150 people in Regina Nov. 6, Seralini said he and fellow scientists have published new work on pesticide toxicity and are ready to publish more. “We have republished […] Read more
Downsized U.S. corn crop surprising
The United States produced a mighty crop this year, but not quite as large as thought. For Canadian growers, that’s more evidence that the lows for this crop year have been posted, but further rallies might be hard to come by. The U.S. Department of Agriculture this week decreased its corn production estimate, surprising traders […] Read more
Farm leaders want targets extended
Rail service | Grower groups urge government to maintain mandatory grain hauling requirement
General farm organizations in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta say Ottawa should extend a federal order requiring Canada’s major railway companies to move a million tonnes of grain per week. Leaders from Keystone Agricultural Producers in Manitoba, the Alberta Federation of Agriculture and the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan say Ottawa’s million-tonne-per-week minimums should remain in […] Read moreCargill sees food safety scares boost China’s appetite for quality
Growing middle class Backyard farms are being replaced by modern processing plants with quality control standards in place
SINGAPORE (Reuters) — A slew of food safety scandals has stoked China’s hunger for higher quality products, says a top executive from Cargill Inc. The demand would sustain consumption of protein-rich farm commodities even as China’s economy slows. The Asian country is toughening its fight against food safety violators in the face of rising incidents […] Read moreSaputo profit up
(Reuters) — Canada’s largest dairy producer has reported a 17 percent jump in quarterly earnings, boosted by higher U.S. cheese and butter prices and recent acquisitions. Saputo Inc., whose brands include Dairyland and 1/2 Moon cakes, said it intends to buy back five percent of its common shares during the next year. Net income for […] Read more
Russia’s crops at risk despite warm weather
PARIS/MOSCOW (Reuters) — Recent warm weather did not eliminate risks for Russia’s fragile winter grain plantings, said the agriculture consultancy SovEcon. It warned of a potential export de-cline next year from one of the world’s key supplies. An early cold spell this autumn has weakened winter grain crops in Russia, which is expected to be […] Read more
